Hooper Brewster-Jones

Hooper Josse Brewster-Jones (1887–1949) was a musician, composer, teacher and music critic, born near Orroroo on the Black Rock Plain, South Australia.

His parents were William Arthur Jones (c. 1855–1947), a school master, and Rebecca née Williams. He attended school at Armagh and Bute, where he was taught by his father, including music. In June 1896, he performed a duet with Rebie Jones and then his own composition, "The Bute March" – he celebrated his ninth birthday a few days later. He left home at age 13 to board in Adelaide.

He returned to Adelaide in 1909 to teach piano, composition and singing. In the following year, in June, he married Gerta Homburg, an amateur singer and authority on German lieder.

During 1916, Brewster-Jones composed an opera in three acts. A correspondent from The Advertiser described the work, "The subject is an old Irish tragedy, 'Deirdre', and he has adopted a prose libretto. The 'solo', requirements are two sopranos, tenor, baritone, and bass. No chorus is introduced."

His works include an opera The Nightingale and the Rose from The Happy Prince and Other Tales. He worked with the Australian Broadcasting Commission as a pianist, radio lecturer and conductor of the state's studio orchestra in the 1930s.

He is the grandfather of John and Rick Brewster, who are the founder members of hard rockers, the Angels. There is a plaque in his honour on the Jubilee 150 Walkway.

Published works